December 15, 2024
Prelude
Welcome
Opening Song
(8:00-10:00) “Hark the Glad Sound!” - #239
(11:00) “Hope For Everyone”
Lighting of Our Advent Wreath
Leader: Throughout all of human history, God’s promise has stayed the same:
Cong: “I will be your God, and you will be my people.”
Leader: This day we worship our God, whose name “Emmanuel” reminds us of the promise:
Cong: God-with-us.
Leader: In this third week of Advent, we give thanks for God’s abiding presence among us.
Song of Praise
“Come Now, O Prince of Peace” - #247
Prayer of the Day
Leader: Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. And all God’s children said loudly...Amen!
First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.
This is the Word of the Lord…Thanks be to God!
Gospel: Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
The Word of the Lord…Thanks be to God.
Message
Song of the Day
“On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” - #249
Apostles Creed (8:00, 9:00)
Announcements
Offering
Anthem
(9:00) Chorale
(8:00-11:00) Jeff Rohlwing
Prayers of the Church
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Prayer
Lamb of God (9:00)
Setting One - Hymn pg 112
Communion Song
(8:00, 9:00) “Comfort, Comfort Now My People” - #256
(10:00, 11:00) “Glory, let There Be Peace”
Blessing and Benediction
Closing Song
(8:00, 9:00) “People, Look East” - #248 vs 1-3
(10:00, 11:00) “Sing We the Song of Emmanuel”
Go in peace, serve the Lord...Thanks be to God!
Postlude